“Your conditions are agreeable, Treasure. Shall we kiss to seal this accord?”
The baby chose that moment to kick, and because of the position they were lying in, Aléx felt the strength of it against his own torso. He placed his hand on her belly where he’d felt the kick and soothingly rubbed it until the little one calmed down.
“Dearest One. You mustn’t kick your mother that way when I’m trying to secure our future. It’s rude.”
“That’s rich coming from a man who told me I owed him a baby.”
He didn’t deny it. From the smug look on his face, he didn’t even have the decency to feel ashamed. Instead, he placed a kiss on her forehead before staring down into her eyes.
“I’m better now, thanks to you. Let me repay that favor ten thousandfold every day for the rest of our lives.”
The amusement left his face, and she could see the intensity of his feelings in his eyes and the straight set of his jaw. She kissedhim back, placing a hungry kiss on his mouth and moaning when he matched her press for press and stroke for stroke.
This new Aléx, the one who wore his feelings on his face, he was the man she wanted by her side. They’d gone through hell for him to emerge, but he was here, alive, and she was in his arms.
He broke away, leaving them both panting with chests heaving.
“Does that mean yes?” His words were thick with love, passion and need. He needed her to say yes.
“That means yes, ten thousandfold for the rest of our lives.”
Epilogue
“Look at Auntie’s baby!”
Aléx watched as his sister-in-law fell in love with his daughter. He couldn’t blame her. His Dearest One had been sublime perfection since she’d made her entrance into the world a few hours ago.
Aléx looked down at his wife in her hospital bed. He was in awe. She was the real hero of the day, laboring for hours and then bringing their daughter safely into the world. He laced her fingers in his and brought them to his lips, whispering “I love you” against them.
“All right, you two.” Reigna’s warning tone pulled their attention away from each other and onto her. “Y’all had better keep all that kissing to a minimum or you’re going to be right back in here in nine to eleven months.”
“You’re a whole lie.” Regina deadpanned. “Now that I know what contractions feel like, I’m gonna need a few years to recover before we even contemplate trying that again.”
Before the two sisters dissolved into a fit of giggles, Aléx walked over to Reigna with his hands out and waited for her to place his sleeping daughter in his hands. Once he had her securely in his arms, the baby cooed as if she knew this would be one of two safest places for her from now until eternity.
Looking at his daughter, Aléx couldn’t believe how far the four adults in the room had come in less than a year. Regina’s hair care line was primed for a successful launch in six months. The fear she’d had that her sister wouldn’t understand disappearedwhen Reigna, outside of Aléx himself, had become Regina’s biggest supporter. Her support had healed whatever hurt their past shared trauma had created, making the sisters closer than anyone could’ve imagined, even for twins.
He and Jasiri had mended their rift. Letting down his guard had meant Aléx had a trusted confidant to help him through his low spaces. It also meant he got to experience Jasiri’s joy and exuberance for life firsthand. Aléx hadn’t understood how much he’d missed experiencing Jasiri’s bold and carefree personality until he’d let the man in again. Now that he’d found the strength to, he and Jasiri were closer than two brothers could ever be. He trusted that man with everything, including the precious little girl sleeping in his arms.
Aléx stood in front of Jasiri and handed him the newborn.
“King Jasiri, would you honor my daughter by giving her your blessing?”
Jasiri beamed with pride in much the same way he had when Aléx had blessed Jasiri’s daughter four months ago.
“It would be my honor.”
He motioned for Aléx to remove the Nyeusian standard from his nearby satchel. Draping it over the baby, he looked at Aléx and said, “Have the two of you decided on a name yet?”
Aléx nodded, his heart pinching inside his chest with bittersweet love.
“It is an Obsidian tradition that the heir bears the names of the kings or queens who came before.”
Aléx glanced over at his wife, and she proudly said, “We decided to name her after two of the greatest queens in the Obsidian royal line. Nairobi Carisse.”
“Regina,” Aléx finished. “If we’re going to name her after the greatest Obsidian queens, then her mother’s name must be included too.”
Regina was shocked. Aléx hadn’t discussed it with her because he knew she’d say no. In his eyes, there was no contest. She was the greatest queen Obsidian Island had ever seen. She’d given him back his life, loved him, and made him a father. To him, there were no greater feats accomplished in his royal bloodline.
